daven

My Feedback: (1)

The ultimate starter line field box setup for the aspiring pylon racer.

These are the products that I have used the past few years with good success. I don’t believe I have ever taken a zero for a no start at any race that I have traveled to and I owe most of that to having a good helper/pusher and good equipment. There is NOTHING more frustrating than to take a zero because of a flooded engine, or low battery in your glow driver or starter. Well, maybe forgetting to push the throttle stick forward at a local race, but that’s another story.

I use the Sullivan Deluxe Starter and Power Pack at these links:

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXFT87&P=7

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXFT85&P=7

Get rid of the yellow starter insert that comes with the starter and get one of these:

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXBC70&P=7

For a weekend of hard starting 422 and 428 engines, I’ve found I’m best off with high capacity NIMH batteries for your starter. I can charge before I leave and fly all day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of a contest without charging until I get home. I use 12 - 3300 mah NIMH cells like these and have been very happy. They are not cheap, but worth the insurance. If you go this route, be very carefull with your initial charges, start at a very low rate (.1 or .2 amps) and cycle several times. Even after using them most of the summer I don’t charge at over .5 amps even though the car guys are charging at closer to 3 amps. They have worked very well and will never go back to 1100 mah cells in my starter.

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXGKD7&P=7

For the glow driver, the radio south units are very nice. I use to think they were the best until I tried the RCATS unit at the following link. This glow driver is lithium powered and delivers all the juice you could ask for if you end up with a flooded engine on the line. The Long-Life lithium batteries are also great insurance against something going dead as your trying to get started. I see on the site that they now offer a protective case for this driver. That is a good idea, mine is several years old and has developed a couple of small cracks in the case. Considering I’ve shipped this thing across the U.S. for several years, I have been very happy with its durability.

http://rcatsystems.com/electronics/ligd.php

Although that is a fine glow driver, the standard sport clip it comes with is all but useless on a Nelson or a Jett. I would recommend a squeeze clip like the one pictured at the bottom of this link:

http://www.superminnow.com/hmracing/...oducts2v2.html

As to a tach, there is no comparable tach to the master tach available occasionally from performance specialties. These are rarely in stock, the only way to get one is to call Dave Shadel and get on the waiting list:

http://www.pspec.com/html/high.html

I do see that the TNC unit is once again available from fromeco. From all accounts, this is a very good tach also.

www.fromeco.org

A third option for an inexpensive accurate tach that I don’t see to often, is the Wild Gage offered by Airwild hobbies. I used this tach for sometime and it was very serviceable for a $45 tach:

http://www.airwildhobbies.com/MoreIn...=product&id=12

Lastly, you will need a box to put everything in. I really like the super T flight box sold by A.J. Seaholm. The laser cut box makes a nice, easy to build home for all of your flightline needs. Don’t try to take everything you own to the line, its not necessary. Just take what you may need to get started and leave the crap at home.

http://www.teamseaholm.com/

The initial investment is quite high for all of the products listed above, and it took me several years of growing my inventory to what I would consider the best available. There are many other options, but definitely invest in reliable equipment and it will help you avoid zeros for years to come.

mikegordon10

Went to the seaholm web site to take a look at the start line field box you mentioned but I guess I'm too stupid to find it. Please help me out here Dave.

daven

My Feedback: (1)

Thanks for the heads up Mike, I can't find it either. Check this thread, it has a lot of info and pictures:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_2928817/tm.htm